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More power, more pulling power yet less emissions and better fuel economy - that's what Volkswagen is promising from its next generation of engines.

All its four-cylinder engines are likely to have direct fuel injection and a turbocharger within a few years, which means they're greener and leaner, but have more power and stamina.

The process began a few months ago when the company introduced its 1.4-litre 140bhp and 170bhp TSI engines into the Golf, Golf Plus and Jetta. These are turbocharged and supercharged, delivering high top-end power with strong mid-range punch.

Later this summer, a 120bhp turbo-only 1.4 TSI will replace VW's mainstream 1.6-litre engine, first in the Golf but eventually in all models up to and including the Passat. It is likely to cost around £100-£150 more than today's 1.6-litre Golf.

Compared with the 1.6, the new TSI engine delivers 6% more power and up to 66% more pull, while covering an extra 4.8 miles per gallon and spitting out 10g/km less carbon dioxide. It's also significantly quicker in 50-75mph overtaking bursts in both fifth and sixth gear. Driveability is outstanding, and it's also impressively smooth and quiet.

However, this is just the start of things to come from VW. The company admits it is working on a range of TSI engines, from 1.0 to 1.6 litres and around 50bhp to 170bhp, to replace the current line-up.

'For some time we will keep offering conventional engines at the lower end of the market for cost reasons, but we are working very hard to introduce TSI engines to replace them,' says Dr Hermann Middendorf, the man in charge of TSI development.